Module 7: Flush

Book Summary:

The Coral Queen is dumping its raw sewage directly into the ocean, and Noah's dad is determined to do something about it. When he ends up in jail, he enlists Noah to help him get evidence of the wrongdoing, but it could prove dangerous when a former employee of the casino boat ends up missing.

Throughout the fight for justice, Noah and his sister Abby must deal with nosy reporters, neighborhood bullies, and gun-toting bad guys to catch the crooks and put the evidence out there for all to see. They are determined to put a stop to the polluting of their beloved ocean, even when they may be putting themselves in harm’s way.

APA Reference of Book:

Hiaasen, C. (2005). Flush. New York, NY: Knopf Books for Young Readers.

Impressions:

Full of manatees, sea turtles, and mangroves, this book has great description of the environment of the Florida Keys. I’ve never been to this area, but I could easily picture the scenery and had a great feel for the setting.

I especially enjoyed Hiaasen’s sense of humor in this book. There were plenty of snarky comments and quirky characters, giving the story a personality of its own. Noah and his sister are good kids who love their parents, and though they may fight as siblings tend to do, they look out for each other and work together to accomplish their goals, whether that be buying stuff at the grocery store or preventing their mother from seeing their father’s latest exploits on the news.

This is a great fast-paced adventure novel for those who love for the underdog to find a way to win in the end. It has plenty of intrigue and backstabbing while still having a well written storyline. I know Hiaasen has plenty of fans, but I would also recommend this for fans of Sachar's Holes as it has a similar feel to the mystery and a similar type of danger.

Professional Reviews:

Booklist: Gr. 5-8. Hiaasen's second novel exhibits some of the same elements found in his 2003 Newbery Honor Book: Florida local color, oddball adults (buxom and brawny), and a delightful quirkiness. But the sparkle that catapulted Hoot into the limelight isn't quite as brilliant here. Even so, there's plenty to like in this yarn, which, once again, drops an environmental issue into the lap of a kid. Righteous indignation, usually resulting from some sabotage of Florida's natural resources, has gotten Noah Underwood's dad in trouble before. This time, however, Dad's gone too far: he sunk a floating casino. Why? Its owner is dumping human waste in the water. Unfortunately, Dad can't prove it, and that's where Noah and his younger sister, Abbey, come in. The amateur sleuthing puts the sibs into some mildly suspenseful, occasionally amusing, situations, which, as in the previous book, share space with run-ins with a local bully (Noah takes some lumps but gets sweet revenge). An old-fashioned deus ex machina interrupts an otherwise believable setup, but Hiaasen still succeeds at relating an entertaining story while getting across a serious message about conservation and the results of just plain greed.

School Library Journal: "Noah and his sister, Abbey, are more understanding of their volatile dad's latest arrest than their mother, who begins talking of divorce. Dad sank the Coral Queen, a casino boat on a Florida Key because, he alleges, its owner, Dusty Muleman, has been illegally dumping raw sewage into the local waters. Soon enough the kids begin trying to gather proof that will vindicate their father and put the casino out of business. The colorful cast includes a drunken lout named Lice who disappears before he can be persuaded to testify against Dusty, his former boss. His rough-around-the-edges girlfriend, Shelly, comes through, though, helping the siblings dump dye in the boat's holding tanks, which finally brings the matter to court. Dusty's son, Jasper, is a chip off the old block, threatening and beating Noah on several occasions until he and, later, Abbey are rescued by a mysterious stranger who turns out to be their grandfather, long ago thought to have died in South America, probably while involved in drug smuggling. As the tale ends, he's back to Colombia to settle old scores. The plot would practically disappear if any one of the major characters had a cell phone, but the environmental story is front and center and readers will be hooked as the good guys try to do the right thing. This quick-reading, fun, family adventure harkens back to the Hardy Boys in its simplicity and quirky characters."

Svirin, S. (2005, August). Flush [Review of the book Flush by Carl Hiaasen]. Booklist Magazine, 101(22), 2028. Retrieved from https://brooklyn.bibliocommons.com/item/show/11240257062906_flush

Shoemaker, J. (2005, September 1). Flush [Review of the book Flush by Carl Hiaasen]. School Library Journal, 59(9), 204. Retrieved from http://www.esebco.com/books/show/66850/searches/66850

Library Uses:

This would be a great book club read for older middle school to younger high school students. There is plenty to discuss about the environment and global pollution, and can give students thoughts about what they can do to make the world a better place.